Soon the holidays will be behind us and it will be time to make plans for the New Year. This issue is filled with a variety of wintry designs to keep you busy until the spring thaw arrives! You can choose to tackle an intricate painting or a simple one, because we made sure that we included paintings for all skill levels. And, if you feel adventurous and want to try a new medium, give colored pencils a try—see the Arctic Wolf Plaque, pictured at right; it is truly stunning.

As promised, we continue to celebrate our 20th anniversary with special features throughout most of 2012. Our Savvy Studio column highlights 20 Specialty Brushes. As painters know, one can never have too many brushes! Perhaps it’s too late to put them on your Christmas wish list, but there’s always Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day (and I’m sure you can come up with a few more “special occasions”). Also, be sure to check out 20 Painting Tips to Make Painting Easier by Gisele Pope and Nony Housh—this article is filled to the brim with valuable information.

Learn more about popular artist/columnist Patricia Reichenbach in this issue’s Painter’s Profile feature. I’ve known Patty for a number of years, and it’s true that people line up two and three deep waiting to paint a make-it-take-it with her at consumer painting shows—and they all walk away looking content with smiles on their faces. Thank you, Patty! If you have not yet tried one of Patty’s paintings, you must put that on your “to-do list.”

Get out your pad and pencil, and start making a list for the New Year. Let 2012 be filled with new adventures and wondrous creativity.

Happy New Year!
Linda R. Heller, Editor in Chief

Take a Peek Inside this Issue

Projects

Season of Snow Journal

Cardinal Accent Pillow

Golden Butterfly Angel

Arctic Wolf Plaque

Trees of Winter

Countryside Barn Watercolor

Twelve Days of Christmas Charger Plate Series, Part 3

Old Abandoned

A Light Has Shone

Winter Serenity

Snowman Plate

Winter by Candlelight

Wooly Winter Sale

Chickadee Seed Bucket and Bird Feeder

Little Berries Candleholder

Snowman Plaque

Valentine Swirls Heart Dish

Valentine Bunny Peg Plaque

Features

Brushstroke Technique Guide

Art & Coffee

Create on Canvas

Painter’s Profile

Vintage Style

Book Bin

Prime Your Palette

Second Time Around

Seasonal Inspirations

Signs of the Seasons

Painter's Potpourri:

Funky Folk Art

Savvy Studio

Projects

Season of Snow Journal Joan Dixon

Cardinal Accent Pillow Trudy Beard

Golden Butterfly Angel Peggy Harris

Arctic Wolf Plaque Lydia Steeves

Trees of Winter Diana Putnam

Countryside Barn Watercolor Kathi Sojka

Twelve Days of Christmas Charger Plate Series, Part 3 Chris Thornton-Deason

Old Abandoned Sue Beckerton

A Light Has Shone Barbara Franzreb Bunsey

Winter Serenity Lynne Deptula

Snowman Plate Bob Pennycook

Winter by Candlelight Lynne Andrews

Wooly Winter Sale Maxine Thomas

Chickadee Seed Bucket and Bird Feeder Linda Hollander

Little Berries Candleholder Terrye French and Deb Antonick

Snowman Plaque Chris Haughey

Valentine Swirls Heart Dish Robin Mani  

Valentine Bunny Peg Plaque Monika Brint

Features

Brushstroke Technique Guide: Vintage Violets
Debby Forshey-Choma

Art & Coffee—One-Hour Watercolors: Frosted Cedar Berries
Debra Henkene

Create on Canvas: Nature’s Solitude
Patricia Reichenbach

Painter’s Profile: Meet Patricia Zentz Reichenbach
Susan Mynyk

Vintage Style: Wooden Child’s Sled
Debbie Cotton

Book Bin: Creative Inspirations
Susan Mynyk

Prime Your Palette: Here’s to a “Colorful” New Year!
Kathi Hanson

Second Time Around: Antique Sled
Nancy Bateman

Seasonal Inspirations: Frosty Winter Morning
Kim Christmas

Signs of the Seasons: Cozy Winter Welcome Signs
Sue Allemand

Painter’s Potpourri: 20 Tips to Make Painting Easier!
Gisele Pope and Nony Housh

Funky Folk Art: Doorknob Secretary
Shara Reiner

Savvy Studio: Specialty Brushes
Kathi Hanson

Departments

Expressions
Coming Next!
Designer Directory
Product Palette

Online Patterns

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